The Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said he believes the London Olympics
will be better than those staged in Beijing in 2008.

With just days to go until the start of the 2012 Games, Jeremy Hunt also revealed his excitement about Friday's opening ceremony but expressed his dismay over the prospect of a strike by border guards.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, he said: “I believe we’ll be better than the Beijing Games. They did a brilliant job, but it was a Games that was playing to China’s strengths, and about China’s role in the modern world.

“We have something different to say. London is one of the great global cities — I believe it’s the greatest city on the planet, and this is our chance to showcase that to the whole world."

He described the Danny Boyle-directed opening ceremony as "absolutely stunning", saying it would "knock us sideways" and be the "biggest single advert for Britain in its history".

"In three hours we'll be able to tell the world just what an extraordinary country we are: our contribution to science, culture, all the things that have shaped the modern world, whether it’s the industrial revolution or democracy. It’s going to be a huge moment to get that message across,” he said.

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Hunt also accused the Public and Commercial Services union, who are planning a strike on Thursday, of "trying to hold a gun to the country's head".

“I think if there was one thing that would flip the public mood in favour of much tougher restrictions on when unions are allowed to strike, it’s this."

He added: “Of course we’ll manage, we have contingency plans in place. But to do it at this time, in this way, will shock people to the core.”

Hunt said the claim by Mark Serwotka, the union’s leader, that the walkout would not affect the Games because it was due to take place before the event began “beggared belief”.

Nevertheless, Hunt compared the proposed strike and unexpected security staff shortages in London to previous Olympics and reasoned that it should not be a cause for panic.

"In the Sydney Games they had a massive ticketing scandal just before the Games opened; in Athens they were still screwing on the roofs of the venues; in Beijing there were big issues over whether international journalists were going to be able to access the internet.

“It’s just such a huge event that you inevitably get things that happen right up until the last minute. But the overall picture has been very encouraging,” he said.

On Great Britain's gold medal hopes, Hunt is more hesitant about the prospect of Team GB equalling their 19 golds won in Beijing, pointing out rule changes, particularly in cycling, that could damage hopes of a repeat haul.

“We very much hope to do as well this time, but of course it’s tougher, because other countries up their game. Also the rules are slightly different — for example it will be harder to win as many gold medals in cycling as we did in Beijing.

“But we’ve got some amazing athletes, and that home nation advantage,” Hunt added.